Ray Alexander honored for 26 years of service to Towamencin police

Retired Towamencin police officer Ray Alexander is recognized for his 26 years of service by Chief Tim Dickinson, left, and supervisors Chairman Dan Littley at a public meeting Wednesday, February 13, 2013. (The Reporter/Bradley Schlegel)

TOWAMENCIN — Ray Alexander, a 26-year veteran of the township’s police department, called his new job a pleasant change.

As a security employee at Pennbrook Middle School, Alexander says his duties usually include monitoring the lunch room and the hallways between classes, as well as remaining on campus during post-school activities.

He said most of the shifts last approximately five hours, far less than the 12-hour, overnight shifts he was required to do every other month as a Towamencin police officer.

Last week, the township’s board of supervisors honored Alexander for his more than 26 years of dedicated service to the community.

Tim Dickinson, chief of the Towamencin Township Police Department, called Alexander one of the best officers he’s ever known.

“I’m very proud to have worked with Ray,” Dickinson said during the meeting. “When he was on I could always sleep well, because I knew he would do the right thing.”

Alexander says the words from his former chief carried significant meaning.

“It was quite an honor,” Alexander said.

Alexander, who retired in November, says the quality of communication between the police and the public has degraded since he joined the force in March of 1986.

“It’s not happening right now,” he said.

However, Alexander most misses the interaction with the public and his fellow officers. He says he approached the job by treating everyone the way he would want to be treated.

Though the township was more rural when he joined the police force, Alexander says the amount of crime has remained steady over the years.

Technology has changed the way the police works, according to former officer.

“In the old days, when you got a call, all you to work with was an address and a brief description of the scene,” Alexander said. “Now, with the computers in the police cars, we have much more information.”

Follow Bradley Schlegel on Twitter @BSchlegel1027.

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